Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic

A University Professor at Columbia University and holder of the Mikati Foundation Professorship in Biomedical Engineering and Medical Sciences, Vunjak-Novakovic built one of the most prolific research programs in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Her laboratory at Columbia focused on engineering human tissues, stem cell research, and disease modeling.

Together with her team, she published over 380 scientific papers, 70 book chapters, and three books on tissue engineering. She was named as co-inventor on 100 licensed, issued, and pending patents, and delivered 380 invited lectures worldwide. Building on her patent portfolio, she co-founded four biotech companies: EpiBone, TARA Biosystems, Xylyx Bio, and Immplacate Health.

Vunjak-Novakovic also served as an honorary professor at the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy at the University of Belgrade, an honorary professor at the University of Novi Sad, and an adjunct professor at Tufts University. She was a frequent advisor to the federal government on tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.